HOLLISTER
The Council of San Benito County Governments wants to hear from the public about walking and biking around the county.
COG is updating their bikeway and pedestrian master plan and is looking to include a “safe routes to school” component. Hollister has a high number of children under age 18 who either bike or walk to and from school. This survey’s goal is to ensure safer biking and walking routes to and from schools. Transportation Planner Veronica Lezama said she is “very excited about this.”
The updating of this plan will “strategize the needs of the public but also include economic development,” according to Lezama. The economic development portion of the plan will likely include lanes going to and from downtown, retail services as well as social services locations. Public transportation will be another aspect COG looks to improve.
Lezama said this plan should be a step in “creating a more livable community” and should showcase what the county has in terms of transportation.
COG will be doing a “walkability”/”bikeability” audit in early November with its 14-member advisory committee. The committee is comprised of a wide range of people from including school officials, a Hollister Downtown Association member, county and city staff and a student from Anzar High School.
They will be going around town to see where biking and walking areas can be improved and implemented, according to Lezama.
If you would like more information on the survey or the master plan, call Veronica Lezama at 637-7665. The survey is available at www.sanbenitocog.org under the left-hand column titled, “What’s New.”
